Stories tracking Jacksonville’s downtown growth, redevelopment projects, and efforts to revitalize the city’s urban core.
Featured image for “JEA board approves sale of former headquarters”
Live Oak Contracting plans to transform the former JEA headquarters campus in Downtown Jacksonville into The Jewel at 21 West. | Jacksonville Daily Record
February 24, 2026

JEA board approves sale of former headquarters

Live Oak Contracting plans to convert the JEA building into residential units, offices and rooftop amenities.…

Featured image for “JTA seeks comments on next phase of driverless shuttles”
Skyway cars move into the LaVilla station of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority. The Skyway could be replaced by the Ultimate Urban Commuter system. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
February 23, 2026

JTA seeks comments on next phase of driverless shuttles

Public meetings will start this week to share information about the shuttles, known as the Ultimate Urban Circulator.…

Featured image for “EverBank seeks $10M to keep headquarters Downtown”
EverBank Center is at 301 W. Bay St. in Downtown Jacksonville. | Monty Zickuhr, Jacksonville Daily Record
February 9, 2026

EverBank seeks $10M to keep headquarters Downtown

EverBank wants taxpayer incentives to make up for the cost of operating Downtown instead of the suburbs.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville’s 60-year-old federal building could be sold”
Federal officials are considering the sale of the Charles E. Bennett Federal Building due to low occupancy and high maintenance costs. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
February 2, 2026

Jacksonville’s 60-year-old federal building could be sold

A federal panel is considering whether to sell the Charles E. Bennett Federal Building in Downtown Jacksonville.…

Featured image for “OPINION | The politics of last call: Should Downtown bars serve ’til 3?”
Downtown bars like Decca Live could serve for an extra hour under a proposal. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
February 1, 2026

OPINION | The politics of last call: Should Downtown bars serve ’til 3?

Should Downtown bars be allowed to serve alcohol for an extra hour?…

Featured image for “MOSH construction on Northbank might start later”
The Museum of Science & History plans a new, larger museum on the Northbank. | MOSH
January 28, 2026

MOSH construction on Northbank might start later

MOSH leaders now have until Sept. 1 to start construction of their new Northbank facility.…

Featured image for “Plans move ahead for restaurant at Riverfront Plaza”
A city-owned restaurant is planned in Riverfront Plaza, the park at the former site of the Jacksonville Landing in Downtown. | Jacksonville Daily Record
January 22, 2026

Plans move ahead for restaurant at Riverfront Plaza

The city would own the restaurant at Riverfront Plaza and choose an operator to build out the structure.…

Featured image for “Gateway Jax begins to transform lighthouse garage”
The Pearl Street retail corridor planned by Gateway Jax. | Gateway Jax
January 21, 2026

Gateway Jax begins to transform lighthouse garage

The development will anchor a retail corridor that Gateway Jax plans along Beaver Street in the Pearl Square neighborhood.…

Featured image for “Autonomous NAVI shuttles could extend to the Beaches”
A NAVI autonomous shuttle moves through traffic on East Bay Street in Downtown Jacksonville. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
January 21, 2026

Autonomous NAVI shuttles could extend to the Beaches

NAVI ultimately could replace JTA’s Beach Buggy ride service in the Beaches, CEO Nat Ford says.…

Featured image for “Baptist Health plans 15-story hotel on Southbank”
The Baptist Health hotel would be built at 1051 Palm Ave. on the Downtown Southbank. | Jacksonville Daily Record
January 12, 2026

Baptist Health plans 15-story hotel on Southbank

The $110 million, four-star hotel would serve patients’ families, but it would be open to the public as well.…

Featured image for “Southbank residential tower in review for permits”
The Related Group’s South Bank Residences is planned at 835 Museum Circle, on the Downtown Jacksonville Southbank where the River City Brewing Co. restaurant was demolished. | Jacksonville Daily Record
January 12, 2026

Southbank residential tower in review for permits

The Related Group plans the tower next to Friendship Fountain, where the River City Brewery once operated.…

Featured image for “Starbucks gets permit to build in Bank of America Tower”
An illustration shows the interior of the proposed Starbucks in Downtown Jacksonville. | City of Jacksonville
December 29, 2025

Starbucks gets permit to build in Bank of America Tower

The city issued a permit for Starbucks to build on the ground floor of the building’s southeast corner.…

Featured image for “Indiana developer says it’s buying Laura Street Trio”
The Laura Street Trio has been deteriorating for decades. | Jessica Palombo, Jacksonville Today
December 5, 2025

Indiana developer says it’s buying Laura Street Trio

Becovic Management Group says it is buying the restored Barnett National Bank Building in addition to the Laura Street Trio.…

Featured image for “Main Street Bridge could become a national landmark”
The Main Street Bridge is featured on a vintage postcard | Jessica Palombo, Jacksonville Today
December 4, 2025

Main Street Bridge could become a national landmark

City lawmakers want to add the iconic Main Street Bridge to the National Register of Historic Places.…

Featured image for “Riverfront Plaza second ‘destination’ Downtown park to open this month”
Riverfront Plaza is set to reopen after an 18-month renovation on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
November 25, 2025

Riverfront Plaza second ‘destination’ Downtown park to open this month

City officials are debuting Riverfront Plaza and RiversEdge public parks on the Nothbank and Southbank, respectively.…

Featured image for “Lights and action usher in Jacksonville’s inaugural River Fest”
Brett Price helps erect the holiday tree inside Riverfront Plaza on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. Price previously built Jacksonville's holiday tree in James Weldon Johnson Park for the previous five years. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
November 25, 2025

Lights and action usher in Jacksonville’s inaugural River Fest

Fireworks, a lighted boat parade and a sneak peek at Jacksonville new downtown park are all at Saturday’s River Fest.…

Featured image for “Developer to seek $48M in incentives for Publix-anchored project Downtown”
Developer Gateway Jax will ask the city for $48 million in incentives for a Publix-anchored project planned at 119 W. Beaver St., Downtown. | Jacksonville Daily Record
November 25, 2025

Developer to seek $48M in incentives for Publix-anchored project Downtown

Officials discussed Gateway Jax’s coming request Monday during a City Council committee on Downtown.…

Featured image for “Four Seasons tax incentive could rise by $6M”
Construction continues on the Four Seasons hotel in Downtown Jacksonville. | Mike Mendenhall, Jacksonville Today
November 20, 2025

Four Seasons tax incentive could rise by $6M

See a rundown of all the incentives going to the Four Seasons hotel and related development.…

Featured image for “More outdoor dining on the way in Downtown Jacksonville”
Renderings of Pearl Square, the Gateway Jax development in the NorthCore area of Downtown Jacksonville, show sidewalk seating. | Jacksonville Daily Record
November 14, 2025

More outdoor dining on the way in Downtown Jacksonville

The Jacksonville City Council voted to allow restaurant and bar seating on Downtown sidewalks.…

Featured image for “City sets sail on new Downtown fireboat station”
An illustration of a new marine fire station has been erected at the riverfront site where the station will be built. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
November 14, 2025

City sets sail on new Downtown fireboat station

Ground was broken Friday for a new fireboat station to serve Jacksonville’s growing Downtown.…

Featured image for “Potential Hard Rock Hotel could seek public incentives”
A potential Hard Rock Hotel is proposed on 2.02 acres at 500 E. Bay St., the site of the demolished Berkman II condominium along the St. Johns River. | Jacksonville Daily Record
November 7, 2025

Potential Hard Rock Hotel could seek public incentives

Developers outlined at least $40 million in incentives for a possible Hard Rock on the Northbank.…

Featured image for “The next step on the riverfront: Shipyards West Park”
The latest design of the Shipyards West Park is 90% complete. It shows a new two-story event pavilion, a flex lawn, a Playscape, Riverwalk, sports/pickleball courts and trees, all planned to be bult by 2028. | City of Jacksonville
November 7, 2025

The next step on the riverfront: Shipyards West Park

Groundbreaking is planned next year on Shipyards West, one of many areas under development on the Northbank.…

Featured image for “Duval DOGE questions autonomous vehicle program”
One of the Jacksonville Transit Authority's autonomous vans makes a test run recently on Gator Bowl Boulevard. A JTA staffer sits inside to take over if necessary. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
November 5, 2025

Duval DOGE questions autonomous vehicle program

Some members of the Jacksonville City Council want to rethink funding for the autonomous vehicle program.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville may expand sidewalk dining Downtown”
Renderings of Pearl Square, the Gateway Jax development in the NorthCore area of Downtown Jacksonville, show sidewalk seating. | Jacksonville Daily Record
November 5, 2025

Jacksonville may expand sidewalk dining Downtown

City Council is considering legislation that would allow sidewalk dining throughout Downtown instead of in select areas.…